My Child does not talk or walk at Six Years Old

We have a child that is six years old who is yet to talk or walk and has seen some of the best doctors in New England, and up till this moment of writing, they have not been able to diagnose his ailment, nor the reason why he cannot talk or walk. This child is healthy (Except that he cannot talk nor walk) and a joy to be around and has never been on any medication, but it remains a mystery to the doctors and to us why he cannot walk nor talk.

He had seen Dr Duffy (The best around here) at Boston Children Hospital who have examined him more than four times, and has done ECG, MRI and other pertinent medical examinations on him, but nothing shows up in the examinations to help determined what is actually wrong. According to Dr Duffy, you cannot medically treat an ailment that you have no diagnoses for.

This child was born healthy and through normal delivery, but at 2 months old he had a mild seizure and was hospitalized for 2 days, and thereafter he was discharged with no complications. However, am beginning to think that is it possible that there was something they might have done during his hospitalization that could be the cause of this problem, or better still have any of our Doctors in the house seen such a case before, and lastly, is there any possibility for a child that age to still walk or talk in the near future.

On a final note, please understand that we have accepted our faith and we love our child like any of our many boyz, and we do not want any empathy or pity for us or him, but will appreciate concrete advice and opinions on what we could still do that we might have not done.

bababoyz

Bababoyz i am not a pediatrician nor a neurologist but i think you may need to seek a second opinion for a diagnosis in another University Hospital to get a diagnosis. You will need to seek all the relevant medical records. This is a common procedure when we do not have diagnosis to send to another physician who might be able to take a fresh insightful look at a case.
Other questions relevant include assesement of Child's muscle development and playing, ability to recognize parents and other Children in the house, ability to hear. Also if the child can be taught sign language meanwhile depending on his ability. You need a psychologic assesement and also an early childhood development specialist.This is an integrative effort involving many people. Most states have these facilities and interacting with your physician and school system would provide this assistance. All these programs are covered by insurance and government. You could also have the hospital records of the addmission reviewed. Has the Child had any genetic tests using the blood and saliva.

Re: bababoyz

Other questions relevant include assesement of Child's muscle development and playing, ability to recognize parents and other Children in the house, ability to hear. Also if the child can be taught sign language meanwhile depending on his ability.

Thank you Orem's for your advice.

He is able to do all the above, except the sign language, which has not been very effective even though he is being taught on that. Furthermore, he has been in the early intervention program since he was four years old.

The genetic test using blood and saliva and numerous tests have been done, and everything comes out as normal. However there is another genetic test that requires fluid being taken from his spinal cord area, but my wife (she is a medical professional) refused to have that done because of the risk involved in the procedure. Meanwhile, it was after we exhausted all possible opinions in our state of residence, we were referred to Boston Children Hospital and mysteriously enough, no single Doctor or test has been able to diagnose the reason for his ailment.

We intend to continue our search for solution and part of that reason is why I posted it on this forum, and I sincerely appreciate your advice and inputs.

Bababoyz

Bababoz i have thought some more about what is going on and i believe the febrile convulsion at the age of 2 is key to what is going on. Febrile seizures are due to high fevers which can occur in Meningitis and otitis media( ear infections). This can lead to neurologic sequelae. Also reduced oxygen to the brain and reduced glucose could give seizures. I think although a diagnosis is important what should also be done is involving a mulitdisciplinary team and assessing futher what else could be done as per communication such as identification of pictures and the like. Sign language is sometimes not easy but if you have some of the other kids also learn the language and the parents communication is easier and not just when the sign language teacher is around.

Stay Blessed brother.

bababoyz,

First of all, I will like to excuse myself for participating here since this was addressed to the MD's of the forum. Some time ago, here in Texas, a Nigerian family had a similar situation where one of their children would not walk to talk during his first 8 years but one day, while his siblings were going off to school one morning, this kid just tried and got up on his own and also tried to say bye to his siblings. Since then, he has improved so much that you can call it nothing but a miracle from God. Have faith and your child will rebound on of these days on his own time. Stay Blessed.

My Child cannot walk or talk

Brother BabaBoyz,
I missed this thread until it was sent to me today by mail - I believe, by the Administrator. It must be very hard on your young family.

First, although I see a lot of children in an "Urgent Care" setting, I do NOT know a thing about Pediatrics. I am NOT a Neurologist either. I agree with brother OREMS, however, that the most probable cause of the seizure was either a high fever or a pipe (aterial or venous) blocakge or interruption in a critical portion of the brain - in this case, between the Midbrain and the Pons., causing a disruption at the Relay Station, dubbed, Corticospinal Tracts which are supposed to fire up the Minority Stations - or Lower Motor Neurons (Nerves), whose main jobs are to make the muscles move in different ways, as electric energy thru wires make the bulbs light.

It is often the movements of these muscles (caused, first, by electrical or, as we'd say, neuronal stimulation) that make one to speak, walk, among other things. My Gut feeling is that this wonderful Child has what I was once taught - donkey years ago in Pediatric Surgical Rotation - called LOCKED-IN SYNDROME!

This is my late '90s sleep-walking Notes on Lock-in Syndrome I sure hope this helps:

Quadriplegia and mutism with intact consciousness and the preservation of vertical eye movements and blinking; usually due to a vascular lesion of pars ventralis pontis , called also "Coma Vigil", "De-efferented State"; or "Pseudo coma". Patients remain awake and alert, but due to motor paralysis of the body, cannot communicate, except in coded eye movements. ..

PS: I plan to do more research and get back, should time permit, and God willing. Brother Administrator, thank you for forwarding this THREAD directly to my email. I hardly have time to read my PM these days.

Thank You

Thanks to you all

Orems, Ednut and Colo;

I thank you all for your inputs and advice, and I intend to keep the villagers posted on developing situation as regards to our lovely son. Please remember him in your prayers. My family has an unshaken believe that he would definitely walk and talk one day, and when that happened, we would share the joy with you all.